ZooZone - Page 2

TracyMM · 06-08-2012, 03:24 PM

I have a ZooZone 2 for my Syrian, and to be honest i really wish I had got the Alexander or the Hamster Heaven. These are the downsides, for me:

1. Meshing the darned thing. I got the mesh on, but then when you lift the lid it won't stay up as it did previously without the mesh. It may be that I did it wrong.
2. The plastic seems a bit thin. If ever Alfred took to chewing (which i doubt) it wouldn't take long to chew his way out, because he is the most determined little creature you ever saw.
3. In the recent hot weather i think it may have got a little overheated.
4. I think it's boring. I have seen wonderful threads by inventive owners who have done marvellous thing to their ZZ2s, but I am not that person. I have done what I can, added platforms, wheel, toys, bridges etc etc. But I would have preferred levels. Alfred is a real climber and I think he would have enjoyed a HH r Alexander far more than this one. This is the downside of buying a cage before you have the hamster and know it's personality (although of course you do have to, i appreciate that!!!).
5. Not much room for a good sized wheel. I have a Karlie Wonderland and it sits near the top of the cage. in fact I would have preferred to have the wheel sitting alongside the narrow end, buy the plastic roof comes down and catches on the top of the wheel. I have tried to remedy this by putting the base of the wheel on a thinner layer of bedding/woodchip.
6. I have to take the entire top off to get Alfred out. I have never been comfortable with just shoving my hand in and airlifting him out (although his breeder does with all her hamsters and assured me I should do the same. But it seems a bit unpleasant, just grabbing him out without him having any say in the matter. I know, tell me I am anthropomorphising). So to allow Alfred the climb out himself I have to take the entire top of, and I worry that one day all this moving will crack the cage or break it altogether.
Good things:
1. It is quite big (but when you have lots of things in there that room just disappears somewhere.
2. It is relatively cheap.
3. You can see him
4. NO BAR CHEWING!!!!! This was why I got a tank cage. Previous hamster harry was an indefatigable bar chewer and I just could not risk getting a barred cage. This is why I have the ZZ2 - it seemed the only option.

Finally, re the hole for the water bottle (and I have put a bowl of water in because I have yet to find a bottle that does not leak) I have got a plastic screw in type thing in this hole, which was to attach a water bottle (which leaked). Inside the cage is an orange plastic smooth surfaced bump. I did think of using this hole to attach one of those wooden platforms? I think this is a good use of the hole and covers it up, as these platforms attach with a butterfly nut and bolt, I think.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 06-08-2012, 03:30 PM

lol we actually replaced our ZZ2 cages with Alexanders... Fortunately for hams who don't bar chew.

They're big, cheap and great for deep substrate. I just find them bad for interaction so replaced them with bars instead

Now they're spare cages incase the hybrids fight.

TracyMM · 06-08-2012, 03:37 PM

I am now going to bed before I give in to the temptation to google cheap Alexanders!!

**kyrilliondaemon** · 06-08-2012, 03:39 PM

lol keep an eye on ebay. We got one with broken corners for £31 new there. The rest were £60 each from the german zooplus though. We've got all four in use though and the hams're happy

Our hybrids didn't like the tank style of the ZZ2 so are really glad we changed them.

racinghamster · 06-09-2012, 01:19 AM

The only way to be sure Jodzie is to buy a Zoozone and see how it goes. If they chew a lot internally, I would make sure: a. They have big enough wheels to occupy them in the running department and b. Plug any existing cage base holes with metal washers (washers on the inside) before the cage is put into use. This should ensure they don`t find anything to chew at and should chew their internal toys and gnawables rather than the cage!

I am SO lucky that my syrian has never been destructive.

Arraminta · 06-09-2012, 04:41 AM

Hi, please have a look at my thread, zoozone alternations and ideas! They are great BUT if one of your hamsters is a chewer , as my Cinnamon is, they can eat through the plastic of a zoozone. Please look at my Quicksteel repairs. On the upside once I fixed it she left it alone and smudgie my male doesn't chew at all.
So if they really chew their way out I'd a cage a glass tank is undoubtably your better option.
Arraminta

Vectis Hamstery · 06-09-2012, 03:49 PM

I had the same problem with the mesh making it hard for me to lift the grid off. I had used 6mm mesh so I snipped around the hinged areas which sorted the problem! Sorry I can't take photos as it's on loan to a friend.

Lavinia · 07-08-2012, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyMM

I am now going to bed before I give in to the temptation to google cheap Alexanders!!

In case you need more temptation... My hamsters who previously bar chewed don't now they are in the Alexander. I actually think that the bar spacing is too narrow for my Syrians to get their nashers round.

Back to the thread, I like my zoozones that my robo's are in but they are easy to chew if you happen to have a chewer.

Lougarry · 07-08-2012, 12:40 AM

Keep an eye on eBay for large tanks too.
e.g. 6 foot tank in Northampton currently at 99p
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-x-2-x-2-...4#ht_638wt_922

NotsoLittleOlive · 07-08-2012, 01:46 AM

My Syrian has started chewing the ZZ ... No matter how much other stuff he has she still has a go every now and then.
I think the key is never letting them know the holes were there. The water bottle hole was covered when she moved into the cage, just by an old credit card stuck on with Velcro. She's never tried to chew that large hole when she could get to it quite easily. The little ones for the hay rack etc have tiny holes and the minute she stuck her nose in one day and realised she could smell the 'outside' she started chewing. They're now covered by velcroed on wooden chews - which she slowly chews her way through knowing the hole is underneath, so they have to be replaced often.

I think if you know the areas from the beginning and make sure theyre well covers before the hams move in, you should be fine.
It's worth noting that the ZZ1 plastic is MUCH thinner than the ZZ2 plastic - a determined chewer could get through it in minutes so I wouldn't put a chewer in one if it wasn't the case that they were in my room and I slept like a ninja so the noise would wake me up.